August 28, 2015 Report (Sharkfest!)

Ken jumped aboard again today and while I was excited at the weather report which called for slick calm conditions and the prospect of fishing for permit like we did on Saturday arriving at the marina proved different. It was still dark and the flags were moving pretty good so the breeze just axed our early morning permit aspirations. No fear, a back up plan is always available, we'll snook fishing instead. Working one of my favorite snook shorelines Ken tosses the top water lure against the shoreline and starts to work it back. Just a few feet away from the shoreline it gets slammed by a nice snook, it jumps and makes a run for the mangroves. Stopping him short the snook starts to come to the boat and right at the boat it spits the hook. Ouch! We had a few more snook strikes but the action quieted as the sun got brighter. Shark fishing was next and they were all over the place, it was common to have 3-4 5'-6' sharks around the boat. Ken hooked one 5' plus and landed him a number of long runs later. In the meantime sharks were still all around the boat and one of them got brave and ate the butterflied barracuda we were using for chum right off our bow, 3 feet from the boat! Great, our chum is gone and just like that the chum and the sharks were gone but not before hooking a 4 footer on lighter tackle but it spit the hook. The day ended bonefishing where Ken had several shots at bonefish but they were spookier than usual and would spook before they got over our baits.

Capt. Mo Estevez www.MiamiBoneFishing.com 786-853-1409 Follow me on Instagram @MiamiBoneFishing

August 25, 2015 Report (Guides Day Off Adventure, Flats Boat in the Stream!)

On my day off local angler Joey and I decided to move off the flats and into a bit deeper water. Armed with lures and a sense of adventure we launched my flats boat and headed offshore. Arriving in 800' of water and finding some weed lines the second weed line paid off with the quarry we sought, mahi mahi (dolphin as we call them in Miami). I really wanted to catch dolphin on fly but as we hooked fish and left them in the water none of their companions would follow them to the boat leaving me without targets to throw a fly at. At the end of our 2 1/2 hour trip we had hooked 6-8 fish and kept two for dinner. Very cool morning!

Capt. Mo Estevez www.MiamiBoneFishing.com 786-853-1409 Follow me on Instagram @MiamiBoneFishing

August 22, 2015 Report

Ken is a regular client of mine from VA and is in town on vacation for a week so we headed out today with his friend Steve. Today was one of those days. Starting at first light my intent was to target permit in slick calm water and we did. Ken and Steve had over a dozen and a half shots within the span of 2 hours, it was insane! The permit were cruising on the surface, floating and tailing. If a permit does it, they were doing it! Shot after shot and no hook ups. They even had shots at a school of tailing permit, laid the cast out perfectly and waited. The school moves over the live crab and they spook when 99% of the times that scenario results in a hook up. When the permit fishing slowed we got into several schools of tailing redfish and still perfect casts were ignored. Moving on and licking our wounds we shifted to bonefish and small sharks moved in instead. Finally we targeted big mutton snapper and Steve hooks up to a nice 8-10 lb mutton that I saw eat on the surface. After a nice fight and several screaming runs later the fish is close to the boat and spits the hook! Really? Sometimes you just have to shake your head. Capt. Mo Estevez www.MiamiBoneFishing.com 786-853-1409 Follow me on Instagram @MiamiBoneFishing

August 20, 2015 Report (Shark Wrestling!)

Joey and his friend Kelly from MD. jumped aboard this morning for some shark fishing under pretty skies. Kelly had never fished before so today would be her first time fishing. Having great tides for shark fishing we went straight for it and the sharks showed up quick! Minutes after setting up one was tailing on the flats and a few minutes later a 6-7 footer came right in, I dropped a bait in front of it and it circled around the bait but didn't eat. What? Really? Eventually we got a few to eat and Kelly got 2 sharks this morning. I'm greedy so I really wanted more for her and Joey but the 5-6 footers would come in and then move away refusing to eat. On one occasion I sight cast a shark for her, it eats and she fights it for a minute or two only to have the shark spit the bait and never got hooked. Bizzare! After landing her first shark, Joey decides he wants to get up close and personal with the shark. Having fished with Joey a number of times in the past and trusting his skills (he's a shark fisherman) I agreed and over the side he went. I have to admit, there were a few close calls!

Capt. Mo Estevez www.MiamiBoneFishing.com 786-853-1409 Follow me on Instagram @MiamiBoneFishing

August 16, 2015 AM & PM Reports

AM Report Tom and his friend David are affiliated with the Bonefish and Tarpon Trust through support and Tom's daughter is a scientist that works for the BTT so with a nice early morning low tide they jumped aboard for some bonefishing. I headed straight to a flat that has been producing well for me and we waited for bones as the tide came in. The bones certainly showed up with a good number of tailing fish but they remained out of casting distance. Poling a few other flats provided a few shots at mudding bonefish but no hook ups. PM Report Ibrahim and his new wife Bahtta are from Kuwait and they were in Miami on their honeymoon. Bahtta had never fished before so I really wanted her to catch a few fish this afternoon. We hit a few spots that were slow but the last one held some fish and Ibrahim had a blast videoing Bahtta catch her first fish and her second and her, well you get the picture. Having had their fill we headed to the flats for some shark fishing. We didn't have to wait long until they showed up and we were able to sight cast to sharks which we fun and kept both Ibrahim and Bahtta busy. These were great folks and we had some great conversations and tons of fun!

Capt. Mo Estevez www.MiamiBoneFishing.com 786-853-1409 Follow me on Instagram @MiamiBoneFishing

August 13, 2015 AM & PM Reports

AM Report My morning trip was with Arnold, his daughter Daniel and his grandson Nico and with no specific agenda for the day we headed off to the trout flats. We had quite a few bites and lost a few next to the boat to spit hooks. Spot number two had some nice jacks on it and as soon as I cast for Daniel she was on! During the fight there was a burst of faster than normal drag screaming and Daniel brings in just the head of her jack. Mr barracuda struck again! Once that occurred the fishing stopped. I wonder why? Geeze, mr. barracuda has a way of intimidating his neighbors. We headed south to buy ourselves some time with the tide and snapper spot one had tons of fish on it including a nice grouper we could see in the clear 6' deep water. Of course, if we can see mr. grouper he can see us so he didn't eat. Moving onto the same flat as yesterday for shark fishing the tide had already turned and we were getting some good current. After about 10 minutes the first rod doubles over but the shark spit the bait before getting hooked. A few minutes later with the heat rising the gang decided to head in early to hit the pool and A/C back home.

PM Report It's always interesting to me how quickly the weather changes in Miami. My morning trip had clear skies, calm winds and hot weather. My afternoon trip with James and his two boys Peyton and Jason from Tampa had cloudy skies, breezy and much cooler. The goal was to get the kids on fish and some fresh fish dinner so we did just that. James had the hot hand early on and then the kids started to catch up. These guys were a lot of fun and they're vacationing in a houseboat in Miami. How cool is that?!

Capt. Mo Estevez www.MiamiBoneFishing.com 786-853-1409 Follow me on Instagram @MiamiBoneFishing

August 12, 2015 Report (Shark Fishing!)

Regular client David brought his friend Steve aboard and off we went on a half day trip of mixing it up. Arriving at a typically productive bonefish flat and seeing nothing for 45 minutes we moved on to a nearby snapper spot and landed quite a few snappers including some other species for shark bait. Once the tide turned we hit the flats and had some shots at BIG bar jacks with lock jaw. Settling into our shark fishing efforts we didn't have to wait long. Within five minutes of setting up, a nice 4 footer moves in, then another one. Before we knew it the rods were doubling over within minutes of dropping our baits in the water. We hooked a total of 5 sharks and landed 4 within an hour. The shark fishing was as hot as the weather and Steve got quite a work out with David getting one of his own. What a great way to end our trip today!

Capt. Mo Estevez www.MiamiBoneFishing.com 786-853-1409 Follow me on Instagram @MiamiBoneFishing

August 11, 2015 Report

Frank and his next door neighbor Brian were on vacation from Boston and got some time away from the wives to fish the bay. We hit a number of spots for different species and caught trout, snappers, jacks and a couple of close encounters with other species. On one cast Brian hooks a trout and fights it to the boat only to have a shark dash in and eat the trout right next to the boat! It's amazing how quick these sharks are. A few minutes later Frank's rod doubles and he is on to a nice spinner shark. After a long drag burning run the shark jumps and spins twice and breaks off. Towards the end of the trip at another spot a big 40lb barracuda ate 3 of their fish right next to the boat including ending a double hook up Frank and Brian had with the barracuda eating one fish, spinning around and eating the other fish within seconds 6 feet from the boat. Whew, glad non of us fell in the water! Capt. Mo Estevez www.MiamiBoneFishing.com 786-853-1409 Follow me on Instagram @MiamiBoneFishing

August 9, 2015 Report (Shark Fishing)

Simon and his son Sonray from Norway jumped aboard as part of a two boat shark fishing trip. The sharks showed up right away but were hard to get to eat. Well, not all of them! We were able to sigh cast to a 3 1/2 footer which was Simon's first shark (they don't have sharks in Norway). Simon was kept busy by a 3' shark that stayed around the bow of the boat trying to eat our chum as his job was to pull the chum away before the shark could eat it. A bit later a bigger shark moves in and we sight cast to it and he ate. Oh boy, the ride was on! The shark Simon hooked was a big 6 1/2 footer on a permit rod (12lb class rod with 30lb braid), oh, oh! An hour and a half later Simon lands the huge shark on light tackle, got some quick pics and off we went back to the marina out running a storm that was worsening right behind us. Wow, what a way to end a Sunday afternoon!

Capt. Mo Estevez www.MiamiBoneFishing.com 786-853-1409 Follow me on Instagram @MiamiBoneFishing

August 8, 2015 AM & PM Report

AM Report Francisco and his friend Luis are from the Dominican Republic and we fished early this year and they are hilarious. These two had me rolling with laughter today as well and we had an absolute blast! The fishing started with smaller fish but we ended with a bang getting into bigger snappers and they went home with some really nice fresh fish dinner. Mission accomplished and I think my cheeks still hurt from laughter!

PM Report Lars and his sons Bo and Simon from Denmark jumped aboard in the afternoon for a quick fishing trip and tour of Miami's Biscayne Bay. The fishing definitely slowed down but did manage to get a bunch of bites but missed most of them. We ended the trip with Simon catching his first trout. Capt. Mo Estevez www.MiamiBonefishing.com 786-853-1409 Follow me on Instagram @MiamiBoneFishing

August 6, 2015 Report (Bonefish!)

Local angler and regular client Alec last fished with me a couple of months ago and on that day the last cast of the day was to a group of feeding bonefish which he hooked and lost about 50 yards into the run courtesy of the neighboring coral heads. Today Alec jumped aboard with a laser focus on bonefish. The bonefishing was slower than expected but Alec stayed focused on the goal so we pressed on. On the last flat of the trip we stake out and wait. Not longer after, a grey shadow moves into the shallow white sand bank we were on and eats the shrimp we offered it. The rod doubled over, a silver flash raced across the flat and Alec hangs on as the fish sizzles 150 yards of line off the reel on the initial run. Wow! After the long run the bonefish burns up it's energy reserves and comes to the landing net. What a feeling! I never get used to this! Some pictures later Alec releases his bonefish and I'm pumped. Another fish moves in, goes right up to our bait and swims off. Call me greedy but I wanted that fish too for Alec. What a way to end a gorgeous summer day in Miami!

Capt. Mo Estevez www.MiamiBoneFishing.com 786-853-1409 Follow me on Instagram @MiamiBoneFishing

August 4, 2015 Report

Matt and his 8 year old daughter Diana had fished with me back in the spring and Diana was hilarious then with her famous statement "can we go real fishing now" after Matt lost a big 100 plus pound tarpon after a 45 minute fight. Today we would go "real fishing" first and then go look for bonefish. It started slower than I would have liked but Diana caught some fish including a spunky jack that gave her all she could handle. Turning our attention to the flats we ended up taking a number of shots at permit and a school of bonefish. See you guys the day after Mother's Day!

Capt. Mo Estevez www.MiamiBoneFishing.com 786-853-1409 Follow me on Instagram @MiamiBoneFishing

August 1, 2015 Report

Today Mick and his son Mike jumped aboard with fly rods in hand ready to do some bonefishing and then maybe change it up. The morning started slick calm and with that ideal window of calm wind forecasted to be brief we met at the marina at 6am. Racing down to the south end of the bays' shoreline to beat the wind and the rapidly rising tide we fished one flat briefly but with not many bones we moved. Going back to where I had fished with Steve just 2 days ago the flat did not disappoint. Mick was able to throw a fly at a school of bones milling around a shoreline but either the cast was short or the fish would move away once the fly dropped. Mick had a couple of shots at tailing fish also but conditions were getting tough with high water, the wind starting to pick up and zero visibility due to thick cloud cover. We decided to make a move and change species so Mike can get some bow time. Arriving at a spot I like the first few casts Mike made his fly got blasted by jacks. Another cast and he's on. I nice fight later a jack comes to the side of the boat only to be sliced in half by a 40lb barracuda! The fish vacated the premises after that and so did we. The next spot was slow so we came back and now the barracuda was gone and right away Mike hooks a nice snapper on fly to end the morning in the now near 20 MPH winds. Capt. Mo Estevez www.MiamiBoneFishing.com 786-853-1409 Follow me on Instagram @MiamiBoneFishing

July 30, 2015 Report

Steve is a local client of mine and always great to fish with so I was looking forward to today. With perfect bonefish and permit conditions I got Steve to meet me at the marina in Homestead at 6am during lobster mini season and he actually showed up on time! He's a trooper! The morning bonefishing was phenomenal! Poling down one of my favorite shorelines Steve had numerous shots on fly at bonefish as they cruised slowly down the shallow, slick calm shoreline. At one point Steve was making a cast at bonefish every few minutes! While we didn't hook any for a number of reasons so typical of bonefishing, the morning action left us breathless. Permit fishing was really slow but the day ended with Steve taking a couple of shots at big tailing and mudding bonefish but the fly was off just a bit on one and they never saw the fly on the other cast. Urgh! That's bonefishing! While on the way to another flat we came across this makeshift Cuban raft that washed up ashore. Who knows if the passengers ever made the long crossing.

Capt. Mo Estevez www.MiamiBoneFishing.com 786-853-1409 Follow me on Instagram @MiamiBoneFishing

July 28, 2015 Report (Bonefish!)

Shawn and his buddy Austin jumped aboard for a full day of bonefishing and the bones did not disappoint today. Early in the morning we set up and worked a flat with the beginning of the outgoing tide and not long after Shawn's rod doubles over and soon he had his first bonefish in his hands a few pictures to prove it. Austin was up next and just a few minutes later his rod doubles over and he's on to his first bonefish! Unfortunately the hook pulled and we never got the release. Another big bonefish moved in but never ate and off we went to change it up. Fishing a few different spots proved slow but Shawn did land a few more different species including losing what was probably a nice snook on artificial. Great day today!

Capt. Mo Estevez www.MiamiBoneFishing.com 786-853-1409 Follow me on Instagram @MiamiBoneFishing

July 27, 2015 Report

Drew and his brother Chris had fished with me back in February and were in town with Drew's son Tommy for a boys weekend. The goal was to fish for bonefish and permit since last time they came down we never hit the flats. The fishing was overall slow but we did have shots at a few schools of bonefish cruising, feeding and tailing just 20' from the boat! They did catch a few sharks, snapper and other species and I look forward to fishing with them again. Capt. Mo Estevez www.MiamiBoneFishing.com 786-853-1409 Follow me on Instagram @MiamiBoneFishing

July 25, 2015 Report

Patricia, her husband Carlos and their four kids had never been fishing and wanted to try something different for the kids. With a second boat in the mix to all 6 of them we headed out near the marina. We tried a few different spots and found fish on almost all of them including losing a few groupers to structure below and about 30 fish being landed by the two kids on my boat and Patricia. The kids had a blast, Patricia and Carlos caught some fish as well and told me they would definitely be back to take the kids out again. That's what it's all about, introducing kids to fishing and watching parents spend time with their kids! Capt. Mo Estevez www.MiamiBoneFishing.com 786-853-1409 Follow me on Instagram @MiamiBoneFishing